Laura Emily Gill

Laura Emily (Swindler) Gill, 77, of Mission, Kansas, died on January 19, 2012, at Kansas City Hospice House.

Laura was born April 22, 1934, in Independence, Missouri, the youngest of Wilhelmina (Steffens) and George W. Swindler's four children. During childhood she also lived in Washington County, Kansas, Nebraska, and El Dorado Springs, Missouri, but most of Laura's life was spent in the metro Kansas City area.

Laura graduated from Westport High School in 1951 and attended Kansas City Junior College. She married fellow Westport High alum Gerald (Jerry) G.H. Gill in 1955, moved to the fast-developing suburb of Overland Park, and had three children. Laura was primarily a homemaker and whatever hobby or project she took up she did with great passion, be it teaching school children about art as a volunteer "picture lady", cooking, researching the history of the city of Overland Park, completing her business administration degree at Washburn University in 1986, astrology, sewing baby quilts, or genealogy, at which she excelled.

Jerry died in 2007; Laura is also predeceased by a sister, Ruth E. (Swindler) Wichman. She is survived by daughter Katherine Gill Castle (Dave), Lenexa, Kansas; son Thomas E. Gill (Silvia), Kansas City, Missouri; son John W. Gill (Sherry), Birmingham, Alabama; grandchildren Carlynn Castle and Nolan Castle, Lenexa, Kansas; sister Katherine M. (Swindler) Hawthorne; brother William A Swindler, a niece and three nephews.

The family thanks Celitha Nevels for being such a great aide and companion to Laura for the last four-plus years, and the superb staff of Kansas City Hospice House for their love and care.

Cremation entrusted to Amos Family Funeral Home, private inurnment at Antioch Pioneer Cemetery in Merriam, Kansas.

Memorial contributions may be made to Kansas City Hospice and Palliative Care, 12000 Wornall Rd, Kansas City, Missouri, 64145.